Or maybe not. Redman threw a four-hitter with a career-high 11 strikeouts last week, then saw a story on the Internet that credited the performance to Redmond.

Redman said he didn't mind.

"We could swap those numbers, as long as I get a couple of his hits in my stats," Redman joked.

At the moment, the biggest difference between the two Reds is that Redman has a swollen left thumb. He broke it when hit by a pitch trying to bunt Tuesday in Phoenix, and he's expected to be sidelined at least two weeks.

Redmond felt Redman's pain, especially since that morning's local paper included a photo of Redmond, rather than Redman, as the game's starting pitcher.

Even before they became teammates this year, there were mix-ups mistaking Redman for Redmond, or Redmond for Redman.

A Redman baseball card included Redmond's photo. Gloves delivered to Redmond were stitched with Redman's name. Bats delivered to Redman were stamped with Redmond's name.

"I actually got my first major league hit with one of those bats," Redman said. "The best scenario is that we play together. That way if anything gets mixed up, it's a 20-foot walk to his locker, and we can exchange it."

When the Marlins decided Red and Red both belonged in teal, they made a trade in January to acquire Redman from the Detroit Tigers.

Mercifully, Marlins manager Jeff Torborg has played them together in only one game. Redman-Redmond makes for a baffling battery, especially since Redmond wears No. 52 and Redman No. 55. It was bad enough Tuesday when Redmond pinch-hit for Redman.

"I have to make sure when I make out the lineup I don't write 'Redmond' to pitch," Torborg said. "Although I think the umpires would probably say, 'Are you sure this is what you want?'"

In person they're easy to differentiate, and not just because of Redman's swollen thumb.

Redman, 29, has a 26-32 career record with three big-league teams. His claim to fame is that he won eight games last season for the Tigers, which in retrospect should have earned him consideration for the Cy Young Award.

Redmond, who turns 32 Monday, has been a backup catcher most of his career. His claim to fame is going 21 for 40 against Tom Glavine, a .525 average that is the best of any hitter against the future Hall of Famer.

Mike and Mark have long been known as Red, although Glavine probably calls Redmond other names. When Redman joined the Marlins, he graciously deferred to Redmond's seniority with the team and offered to go by Big Red.

"I call him Red, and he calls me Big Red," Redman said. "He has been here the longest, so most guys on the team call him Red. Sometimes they say 'Red' and I ignore them and they're talking to me, and then they think I'm big-leaguing them."

On the road, Redmond received phone calls in his hotel room from teammates looking for Redman.

Then, to eliminate some of the confusion, Redman began checking in under an alias.

Only a name change will prevent the occasional misidentification. As Redman relaxed in the dugout between starts during a game in Philadelphia, he noticed that his photograph was displayed on the scoreboard.